Fed: Thousands march against war in Canberra

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Fed: Thousands march against war in Canberra

CANBERRA, Feb 15 AAP - A crowd estimated at between 3,000 and 5,000 people began marchingthrough the central Canberra suburb of Civic this afternoon to protest against Australianinvolvement in an impending war in Iraq.

An ACT police spokesman estimated the crowd at 3,000 but organisers said it was thelargest protest crowd ever seen in Canberra and was at least 5,000 in number.

The rally heard from speakers such as federal Labor MP and former Western Australianpremier Carmen Lawrence and Catholic Bishop Pat Power.

Organiser and Australian National University Emeritus Professor Bob Douglas said hehad never seen a crowd so big at a Canberra rally.

"It's wall-to-wall people," he told AAP.

"It really is a very powerful statement. The Australian people have shown they don't want war."

Professor Douglas said the extent of the disquiet at Prime Minister John Howard's decisionto send troops to Iraq crossed political allegiances and reached into all walks of life.

An ACT police spokesman said the crowd had been well behaved.

AAP dep/wjf

KEYWORD: IRAQ AUST ACT (PIX AVAILABLE)